Insole taping machine



April 1943- F. L. AYERS 2,315,493

INSOLE TAPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 6, 1943. F. L. AYERS INSOLE TAPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1942 INVENTOR. E4961 L.flye1 so2 .ms l

Patented Apr. 6, 1943 INSOLE TAPING MACHINE Fred L. Ayers, Watertown, Mass, assignorof onehalf to Newton Elkin, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 26, 1942, Serial No. 28,308

(Cl. 122G) 9 Claims.

The present application is a continuation, in part, of my co-pending application Serial No. 400,919, filed July 3, 1941, and it relates to a machine for practicing the invention forming the subject matter of my aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 460,919.

The object of the present invention is a machine for applying a longitudinally folded tape or strip, as for instance, a longitudinally folded fabric strip or tape, about the margin of at least the fore-part of an inner sole blank of a shoe on one face thereof, with the fold-line facing inwardly, including a strip-folding or tape-folding guide through which the fabric strip or tape is passed on its way from the spool or source to th edge of the inner sole, means for gripping the marginal zone of the inner sole blank and for advancing such marginal zone between the gripping means ;the longitudinally folded strip or tape issuing from the strip-folder or tape folder being adapted to enter between the marginal portion of the inner soie blank and one of the gripping members of the sole-gripping means, thereby to be pressed into adhesive or cemented union with the marginal zone of the inner sole blank, and means for guiding the edge of the inner sole in suitable registering alignment with the tape-folder as the marginal portion of the inner sole blank is advanced between the solegripping means, "so as to cause the folded tape to be fed to the marginal zone of the inner sole blank in the desired spaced relationship to the edge of the inner sole blank.

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a perspective View of a machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a perspective view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, of the sole-gripping and feeding means, with an inner sole shown positioned therebetween, as the fold tap is fed thereto, taken generally on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a perspective view of an inner sole to which the tape has been applied.

Figure 4 represents a section on line 4- 1 of Figure 2, on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Figure 5 represents a fragmentary top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 6 represents another embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, a drive shaft 8 is suitably journalled in any suitable bearings I and 8, preferably disposed and supported beneath any suitable table 9 having in it a suitable slit-like opening ID through which a small portion of the periphery of the driving wheel or roll ll may project (slightly above the upper surface of the table 9). The shaft 6, having the driving wheel or roller ll affixed or keyed thereto, is in turn driven by any suitable source of power through an endless belt l2 running over a driven pulley l3 carried by the shaft 6. The driv from which the belt I2 is driven is not shown in the drawings, but this may be any conventional drive which may be readily started and stopped, at the will of the operator, as, for instance, an independent electric motor, or it may be a line shaft with a suitable friction clutch interposed between the driving pulley (not shown) on the line shaft and the line shaft itself, in the manner customary in driving a series of power-driven sewing machines from a single line shaft.

The periphery M of the driving wheel or roller H may be knurled or otherwise roughened to giv it a good friction-gripping surface in relation to the material of which the inner sole blank is made, or it may be covered with an outer covering of suitable rubber or other more or less frictional material. For this purpose any frictional material may be used. In the illustration shown particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 5, an outer layer of rubber-like material is shown, more or less resilient, for giving a suitable frictional surface on the cylindrical periphery of the roll H.

An idle counter-pressure roll I5 is carried by any suitable spring-pressed or spring tensioned support, as for instance, the arm l5, which may be pivoted on the pivot ll carried by suitable lugs or pivot-bearing members it in the table or carried by the table 9. The arm I5 is preferably extended laterally by the more or less horizontal offsetting portion 19 which constitutes a more or less rigid lateral extension of the front end of the :arm It, so that the arm l6, itself, may be offset to the right and more nearly out of the way of the operator manipulating the inner sole blank 20 in the machine. The idle counter-pressure roll 15 may be revolubly secured to the end of the offsetting member l9 by a suitable pivot screw 2|.

The idle counter-pressure roll or wheel I5 is preferably formed with a truncated conical outer peripheral 22, which is preferably knurled, and the axis of the roller wheel l5 may be disposed at a slight angle to the axis of the shaft 8 in the manner indicated in the drawings.

The arm I 6 may be spring tensioned by any suitable spring, as for instance, a helical tension spring 23 interposed between a spring anchorage 24 carried by the table and a spring anchorage 25 carried by the arm l5. By this means the counter-pressure roller will be pressed, with any desired pressure, towards the driving roll or wheel H.

Any suitable strip, as for instance, a tough paper strip, though preferably a woven textile tape 2% having a rubber or rubber-like cement or a cellulose type cement 27 on one surface thereof is provided in a roll 28, which may be carried either above or below the table 9, as for instance on any suitable supporting pin or trunnion 29 (suitably supported in any manner) from which the tape 26 may be drawn as required by the machine. The cement 27, on one of the surfaces of the tape 25, is such as to be but slightly tacky and so as not to form a firm union or so as not to possess any great adhesion in respect to an uncoated surface, but to have great adhesive qualities in relation to a similarly coated surface against which it may be pressed. Thus, the cement-coated tape 26 may be drawn fairly easily (with but very slight resistance) from the roll 28.

If the tape supply roll 28 is positioned beneath the table, then the tape may be passed through an opening 30 in the table, where it passes over a suitable flanged idle guide roll 31 carried upon a suitable pivot pin 32, from where it passes over a pair of idle flanged guide rolls 33 and 34, revolubly mounted upon suitable pivot pins 35 and 35 upon an adjustable supporting spring plate 3? which is secured to the table 9 upon a slight elevating shim 33, by means of the securing and adjusting screws 39 and extending through suitable elongated slots 41 and 42 whereby a slight adjustment of the plate 31 may be efiected. At the end of the plate nearest the roll II, a tape-folding tube or tape folder 43 is secured through which the tape 26 is threaded and from which the tape is delivered above the inner sole blank 25, in registration with the marginal zone thereof, in the manner indicated particularly in Figure 2. An edge guide 44 is also adjustably secured to the table 9, by means of the screws 45 and 45 extended through similar elongated slots i? and 48;--the edge guide 44 having an up-turned finger 49 which is adapted to guide and determine the position of the edge of H the inner sole in relation to the rollers I l and I5 and in relation to the tape folder 43. The inner sole blank being pre-coated over the forepart 59 thereof with a cement coating similar to the coating 2? on one side of the tape, the tape forms a firm union with the marginal zone thereof as it is pressed down flat against the inner sole blank 20 by the roll l5; in a folded condition.

The tape is so threaded through the tape folder -33 that the adhesive or cement-coated surface will be folded outwardly and the tape folder 43 is so positioned that the folded edge along the median line 64 of the tape will be faced inwardly of the edge of the inner sole as shown in Figure 2.

If desired, a suitable sharp cutting knife, preferably pivotally hinged and adapted to be swung, at will, between the roll l5 and the folder #3, may also be provided for cutting off the tape when the inner sole has been fully taped in the manner indicated in Figure 3. This cutting-01f knife, however, may also be placed behind the wheel i 5 (instead of being between the wheel l5 and folder 43) so that the leading edge of the tape supply will still be between the rolls l5 and l l so that as the next inner sole is fed between the rolls [5 and H (beneath the folded tape 26) the tape will again be in position to be fed around and to be cementedly adhered to the marginal zone of the inner sole. Any suitable cut-off knife operating mechanism may be used, as for instance, any of the known cut-off knife operating mechanisms.

By pushing the handle or knob 59 rearwardly, the roller l5 may be raised suiiiciently to permit the more ready insertion of the marginal por tion of the inner sole between the two rolls l5 and II.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6, a somewhat different form of frame or housing is shown, resembling more nearly a conventional sewing machine frame having an overhead arm 5! carried by the table 9 and having a vertically slidable spring-presed plunger 52 carried within the head 53 and spring-pressed by a suitable compression spring 5 3 and adapted to be raised into its inoperative position by the eccentric 55 pivoted at 56 between the bifurcated end 51 of the plunger 52 and adapted to be operated by a hand lever 58 to raise the wheel i5 into an inoperative position.

In this form the tape roll supply 28 may be supported above or behind the arm 5!, upon a suitable bracket 6G;the tape 28 passing downwardly beneath the flanged guide roll 6| carried by a pivot pin 62 on the bracket 63 from where it enters the guide 43.

While in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings I have indicated a pre-coated tape, I may also utilize an uncoated tape which may be coated while the tape is in transit fro: the roll 28 to the folder 43, although I prefer a pro-coated tape in the manner indicated hereinabove.

In addition to the folded tube-type tape folder 43, I may also fold the tape 26 by passing it between juxtaposed small folding rolls, as for instance, a roll having a concave V groove in its periphery in which a counter-roll having a convex V ridge is adapted to run, with sufficient clearance for the tape, so as to fold the tape in a more or less sharp V formation longitudinally. In place of the V-grooved roll, a pair of cylindrical rolls at an angle to each other may also be used so that their peripheries will be disposed to each other in the form of a V.

Instead of driving from the bottom, I may also drive from the top, that is, have the lower roll ll idling and have the propulsion provided by driving the upper roll or having any other suitable upper driving means for progressively advancing the marginal zone of the inner sole along with the folded tape 25) so as progresively to apply the tape to the marginal zone of the inner sole.

For an upper drive, I may utilize a pair of walking feet with alternating walking and gripping motion pressing against the lower idle roll.

While in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings the free leaf of the folded tape 25 is shown raised somewhat, for purposes of clearer illustration in these perspective views, it is to be understood that the free leaf or the free half of the tape 26 is pressed down flat in the manner indicated in cross section in Figure 4 and Figures 1 and 6, and after such application of the tape, in a folded condition, the tape remains folded with its two halves in more or less closed relation to each other.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An insole taping machine inc ing means for supporting and feeding the m lal portion of an innersole blank, and means in operative juxtaposition to said innersole blank supporting and feeding means for folding a cement-coated tape to the marginal zone of said innersole as the innersole blank is fed by said innersole feeding means, with the cement ating disposed outwardly and with the fold-line facing inwardly of the of the innersole.

2. An insole taping machine including means for supporting and feeding the marginal portion of an inner sole blank, means in operative juxtaposition to said innersole blank supporting and feeding means for folding a cement-coated tape to the marginal zone of said innersole as the innersole blank is fed by said innersole feeding means, with the cement coating disposed outwardly and with the fold-line facing inwardly of the edge of the innersole, and means for guiding the edge of the innersole in relation to said tapefolding means.

3. An insole taping machine including means for compressingl gripping on its two juxtaposed surfaces 9. small portion of the marginal zone of an innersole blank and for gradually and progressively advancing the grip along the marginal zone of the innersole, said gripping means including at least two juxtaposed gripping members, one of which is a revolubly mounted idle roll, and the other of which is a power-driven member having linear displacement of predetermined rate on its surface juxtaposed to said idle roll and adapted frictionally to engage and to drive the marginal portion of the innersole and folded tape, and means for longitudinally folding a cement-coated tape in alignment with the marginal portion of said innersole with its cement coating disposed outwardly and with its fold-line facing inwardly of the edge of the innersole blank.

4. An insole taping machine including means for compressingly gripping on its two juxtaposed surfaces at small portion of the marginal zone of an innersole blank and for gradually and progressively advancing the grip along the marginal zone of the innersole, said gripping means in-- i eluding at least two juxtaposed gripping members, one of which is a revolubly mounted idle roll, and the other of which is a power-driven member having linear displacement of predetermined rate on its surface juxtaposed to said idle roll and adapted frictionally to engage and to drive the marginal portion of the innersole and folded tape, means for longitudinally folding a cementcoated tape in alignment with the marginal portion of said innersole with its cement coating disposed outwardly and with its fold-1ine facing inwardly of the edge of the innersole blank, and adjustable means for guiding the edge of the innersole and for determining its position in relation to the tape-folding means.

5. An insole taping machine including means for compressingly gripping on its two juxtaposed surfaces a small portion of the marginal zone of an innersole blank and for gradually and progressively advancing the grip along the marginal zone of the innersole, said gripping means including at least two juxtaposed gripping members, one of which is a revolubly mounted idle roll, and the other of which is a power-driven member having linear displacement of predetermined rate on its surface juxtaposed to said idle roll and adapted frictionally to engage and to drive the marginal portion of the innersole and folded tape, means for longitudinally folding a cement-coated tape in alignment with the marginal portion of said innersole with its cement coating disposed outwardly and with its fold-line facing inwardly of the edge of the innersole blank, and resilient means for pressing said gripping members towards each other.

6. An insole taping machine including a powerdriven roll, a revolubly mounted idle roll in operative juxtaposition thereto, resilient means urging one of said two rolls towards the other, a tape folder disposed in operative alignment with said rolls and an edge guide disposed to one side of said rolls for guiding the edge of an innersole in relation thereto.

7. An insole taping machine including a powerdriven roll, a revolubly mounted co-acting roll in operative juxtaposition thereto whose axis of rotation deviates slightly from the parallel relation to the axis of the first named roll, resilient means urging one of said two rolls towards the other, a tape folder disposed in operative alignment with said rolls and an edge guide disposed to one side of said rolls for guiding the edge of an innersole in relation thereto.

8. An insole taping machine including a powerdriven roll, a revolubly mounted co-acting frustro-conical roll in operative juxtaposition thereto, resilient means urging one of said two rolls towards the other, a tape folder disposed in operative alignment with said rolls and an edge guide disposed to one side of said rolls for guiding the edge of an innersole in relation thereto.

9. An insole taping machine including a powerdriven roll, a revolubly mounted co-acting frustro-conical roll in operative juxtaposition thereto whose axis of rotation deviates slightly from the parallel relation to the axis of the first named roll, resilient means urging one of said two rolls towards the other, a tape folder disposed in operative alignment with said rolls and an edge guide disposed to one side of said rolls for guiding the edge of an innersole in relation thereto.

FRED L. AYERS. 

